Patience in Progress

For years, we've been told that strength means handling everything on our own. But what happens when being "the strong one" becomes the very thing that keeps us isolated?

In this heartfelt episode, we dive into why strong, capable people often struggle the most when it comes to asking for help. We discuss the fear of being a burden, the pressure to keep it all together, trust issues, vulnerability, and the hidden emotional toll of carrying life's heaviest burdens alone.

Through personal experiences with cancer, caregiving, grief, divorce, family struggles, and mental health challenges, we explore the difference between true strength and self-sufficiency. We also share lessons learned from watching loved ones carry more than anyone should have to bear and the importance of allowing others to show up for us.

If you've ever said, "I'm fine" when you weren't, struggled to accept help, or felt like you couldn't afford to break down, this episode is for you.

Because sometimes the bravest thing we can say is: "I can't do this alone."

We've all had them, the moments that make us want to disappear, laugh uncontrollably, or replay the event in our heads for years afterward.

In this hilarious episode of Patience in Progress, Shel, Mel, and Karissa share some of their most embarrassing stories, from wardrobe malfunctions and public mishaps to awkward work moments, parenting fails, texting disasters, and Zoom call catastrophes.

Join us as we laugh at ourselves, prove that nobody has it all together, and discover that some of life's most cringe-worthy moments eventually become our favorite stories.

Whether you've accidentally hugged a stranger, sent a text to the wrong person, called someone by the wrong name for a year, or said something you definitely shouldn't have with your microphone on, you'll feel right at home.

Grab a friend, settle in, and get ready to laugh with us as we embrace the awkward, celebrate our imperfections, and remember that sometimes the best memories come from the moments we'd rather forget.

Summer should be filled with adventure, fun, and memories—but it can also be one of the busiest seasons for pediatric trauma injuries. In this episode of Patience in Progress, Shel and Mel sit down for an eye-opening conversation about the real-life accidents and injuries that bring children to the trauma unit every summer. Drawing from years of experience as a pediatric neuro trauma nurse, Shel shares powerful stories, hard-earned lessons, and practical safety tips every parent should know.

From helmets and e-bikes to ATV safety, drowning prevention, window falls, gun safety, and recognizing the signs of a serious head injury, this episode is packed with information that could help prevent a tragedy and protect the children you love most.

Whether you're a parent, grandparent, caregiver, or simply someone who spends time around children, this conversation offers valuable insights into how quickly accidents can happen, and the simple steps that can make all the difference.

What happens when co-parenting isn’t cooperation but control?

In this episode, we continue Darren’s story and unpack the reality of high-conflict co-parenting. From emotional manipulation to court system frustrations, this conversation exposes the unseen battles many parents face behind closed doors.

We explore how children are affected, how narratives get twisted, and what it takes to keep fighting when it feels impossible.

If you’ve ever questioned your sanity, your role, or your strength in a toxic co-parenting situation? Then this episode is for you.

In this episode of Patience in Progress, we take a deep dive into negative core beliefs, the hidden thoughts and stories we carry about ourselves that quietly shape our relationships, confidence, boundaries, and self-worth.

We open up about personal experiences that planted beliefs like “I’m not good enough,” “People always leave,” and “If I rest, I’m lazy,” and discuss how childhood experiences, criticism, trauma, rejection, and unhealthy dynamics can follow us into adulthood without us even realizing it.

This episode is raw, honest, emotional, and relatable as we unpack perfectionism, people-pleasing, burnout, abandonment fears, and the struggle to truly love ourselves. Most importantly, we talk about how healing often starts by recognizing the lies we’ve believed for years, and learning to replace them with truth.

If you’ve ever questioned your worth, struggled with boundaries, over analyzed silence, or felt like you had to constantly prove yourself, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of Patience in Progress, we dive into the complicated world of confidence, what it is, where it comes from, and why it can disappear so quickly. From negative self-talk and perfectionism to body language, sports, parenting, relationships, and professional growth, we unpack the small things that shape how we see ourselves.

We talk about surviving hard seasons, learning to trust yourself again, and why confidence isn’t about being perfect, it’s about continuing to show up anyway. Plus, we debate participation trophies, discuss the fine line between confidence and arrogance, and share plenty of real-life moments, laughs, and honest struggles along the way.

If you’ve ever questioned your worth, doubted yourself, or needed a reminder that growth takes grace, this conversation is for you.

This week on Patience in Progress, the girls are diving into the ultimate controversial questions, the kind that somehow turn into full-blown debates. From the “correct” way to load a dishwasher to whether pineapple belongs on pizza, nothing is off limits.

The conversation gets hilarious as they tackle hot dogs being sandwiches, milk-before-cereal people, clapping when planes land, checking your partner’s phone, and whether you should ever go to bed angry. Along the way, they share funny personal stories, marriage moments, parenting opinions, and the little everyday things people get surprisingly passionate about.

It’s lighthearted, relatable, and full of laughs, because sometimes the best conversations come from the silliest questions.

Be patient with yourself. Progress is happening even when you don’t see it.

This week on Patience in Progress, we’re keeping it real… like really real. No scripts, no structure, just honest, slightly chaotic, very relatable “real talk.”

We’re diving into anxiety, overstimulation, and those moments where one tiny thing (looking at you, messy house or whining dog) sends us completely over the edge. You know… the “how did I get here?” kind of moments.

We laugh through the chaos as we talk about what helps (and what definitely doesn’t), why sometimes you need to put yourself in timeout, and how a girls’ trip might actually be considered therapy at this point.

If you’ve ever overreacted, needed a reset, or just felt like life is a little too much sometimes, this episode is basically a conversation with friends who get it.

Because let’s be honest… we’re all just figuring it out as we go. And some days, that’s more than enough.

What do you do when you’ve hit your limit… when you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and feel like you have nothing left to give?

In this episode of Patience in Progress, we talk about “juniper tree moments” those breaking points in life where everything feels too heavy, too hard, and too much. Inspired by the story of Elijah, we open up about burnout, mental exhaustion, and the quiet truth that even the strongest people have moments where they just can’t keep going.

But here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: sometimes the answer isn’t to push harder, it’s to rest, to be taken care of., to sit in the hard and let yourself breathe again.

If you’ve ever felt alone, defeated, or like you’re barely holding it together, this conversation is for you. You’re not broken.... you’re human. And you’re not alone.

This is the final chapter of Darren’s story and it’s one that so many parents will feel.

We talk about the emotional, financial, and mental toll of battling through a system that doesn’t always feel fair. From repeated court appearances to the impossible balance of providing while still trying to be present, this episode dives into the reality many fathers face but few talk about.

And in the middle of all of it… how do you keep going?

This episode isn’t just about the fight, it’s about learning when to let go, how to protect your peace, and why continuing to show up still matters most.

This is the raw truth behind the system… and the strength it takes to survive it.